Lists that rank the best players, positions, and more from the world's most popular sport.

Soccer: The Beautiful Game

Soccer

What are the best World Cups of all time? Every four years, the entire footballing world comes together for the ultimate soccer showdown featuring all of the best soccer teams in the world. Since the tournament began in 1930, there have been 8 nations <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-world-cup-championship-teams-in-history/patrick-alexander">to claim the title of World Cup champions</a> in 21 runnings of the competition. Over the course of one month, the best soccer team in the world is decided <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-world-cup-finals-of-all-time/patrick-alexander">culminating in the World Cup finals</a>. With so much talent in international football, the tournament often features many of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-soccer-players-of-all-time/ranker-soccer">the greatest soccer players of all time</a>. What is the best World Cup all time? Which FIFA World Cups did you love most?When it comes to the best FIFA World Cups, Brazil has the most tickets in the raffle with their five all time World Cup titles. The Seleção's best World Cup victory was likely in 1970, when the Pelé-led side demolished Italy 4-1 and took home the Jules Rimet Trophy. Germany also has four FIFA World Cup finals wins, last appearing in 2014 with a very pragmatic 1-0 outlasting of Argentina. Four countries have hosted World Cups twice, but Mexico will become the only country to host the World Cup three times when the tournament travels back to the Americas in 2026.&nbsp;Vote up the best World Cups of all time, or maybe just your favorite World Cups you've watched over the years, and help decide what was the greatest World Cup in the quadrennial tournament's history.

The Best World Cups Of All Time

Event

All 22 FIFA World Cups, Ranked

Pat Alexander

Whether it's Laurie from Halloween, Nancy from Nightmare on Elm Street, or Sally from Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the horror community loves its final girls. The "final girl," of course, is the trope in which the last character standing in a slasher film is a girl-next-door kind of character who's resourceful enough to take on the killer and live.It's a pattern that has been praised, criticized, subverted, and parodied over the years, but one thing that remains certain is that it's here to stay - so perhaps it's time for yet another parody.Which president do you want to see fighting for their life in a slasher film, blood-spattered, running through the woods in a skimpy outfit, dropping weapons left and right, but somehow always making it out alive? Vote up the candidates who would survive for the low-budget sequel, and vote down the ones who just don't stand a chance against their film's masked killer.

Which US President Would Make The Best Final Girl?

US President

Linda Meyers

Politics

Primary sources throughout the centuries describe some of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/firsthand-accounts-from-history_s-biggest-events/melissa-sartore?page=2" target="_blank">most significant</a>, largest battles in history. Finding accounts of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/important-historical-battles-we-never-heard-of/jim-rowley" target="_blank">ancient and medieval skirmishes</a> from the individuals who fought in them is challenging, with much of the information transmitted through later accounts.

From major entanglements fought during the Persian and Peloponnesian&nbsp;Wars of the fifth century BCE, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/life-fighting-in-the-roman-front-lines/ryan-sargent" target="_blank">through major Roman conflicts</a> like the one at Cannae (216 BCE), and on to&nbsp;history-altering face-offs like the&nbsp;<a href="https://historicengland.org.uk/content/docs/listing/battlefields/hastings/#:~:text=Although%20there%20is%20no%20eyewitness,by%20Baudri%2C%20Abbot%20of%20Bourgueil" target="_blank">Battle of Hastings</a>&nbsp;(1066), there&#39;s some murkiness in the versions that exist. There are also plenty of frays that lack clear documentation and, as a result, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/important-historical-battles-we-never-heard-of/jim-rowley" target="_blank">remain relatively unknown</a>.

Then there are the battles that stand out - the ones you know the names of, you&#39;ve heard stories about, and have perhaps seen pictures from. These are some of history&#39;s deadliest conflicts, which hold a unique significance among the others. Technology, social and political circumstances, and numerous other factors distinguish some of history&#39;s biggest confrontations, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/firsthand-stalingrad-facts/quinn-armstrong" target="_blank">making firsthand accounts</a> of the events even more insightful and poignant.

It&#39;s possible to find a different perspective or rare bit of information in the words of individuals who lived through a battle, which makes what seems like a very old conflict very, very new. Vote up the firsthand accounts from these historical incidents that offer a glimpse into combat like you&#39;ve never seen before.&nbsp;

Firsthand Accounts From 10 Of History's Biggest Battles

General

Melissa Sartore

There are many&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-but-true-us-president-facts/mallory-weiler" target="_blank">weird but true</a> facts out there about US&nbsp;presidents, past and present. Some are laughable, some are sad, and many are just plain odd. Not to mention that&nbsp;a number of presidential facts we learned in school are exaggerated, or simply not true. (No, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/george-washington-denture-origins/genevieve-carlton" target="_blank">George Washington&#39;s teeth</a> were not made of wood, and he probably <a href="https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/cherry-tree-myth/" target="_blank">didn&#39;t chop down that cherry tree</a> either.)

Nonetheless, plenty of funny facts about American&nbsp;commanders-in-chief are worth knowing about. We&#39;ve rounded up some pretty wild info about presidents, from the founding fathers to recent leaders. In a world where presidential politics is often far too serious, these presidential facts&nbsp;are sure to make you giggle.

Surprising Facts About US Presidents That Made Us Giggle

Chrissy Rose

Ever since the presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the American public has been fixated on a president&#39;s first 100 days. Though some of the men who held the nation&#39;s top office have <a href="https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/04/first-100-days-trump-bogus-215016" target="_blank">disputed the importance</a>&nbsp;of a potentially&nbsp;arbitrary number&nbsp;of days, <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2021/04/16/the-first-100-days-when-did-we-start-caring-about-them-and-why-do-they-matter/" target="_blank">many analysts believe</a> the first 100 days of a presidency can foreshadow&nbsp;the tone and ability of the administration.

Whether the evaluated or the evaluators are correct about the importance of the 100-day evaluation, one thing is certainly true: The approval ratings of a president can change over the course of three months. Beginning in 1945, <a href="https://news.gallup.com/interactives/185273/presidential-job-approval-center.aspx" target="_blank">Gallup</a> began to measure the public&#39;s view of the US president&#39;s job performance and has&nbsp;provided a clear, statistical understanding of expectations and accomplishments since President Harry S. Truman.

The data has illuminated trends over the decades. Presidents usually experience a boost in public approval during their first few months in office. For some presidents, how they handle a major crisis in their first 100 days can make or break their legacies. For others, specific bills or policies can completely change the public&#39;s attitude. But above all else, the polls show the public&#39;s feelings regarding their president&#39;s competence over their first 100 days.

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How Every Modern President's Approval Ratings Compare After Their First 100 Days

Every Modern President's Approval Ratings After Their First 100 Days

Brenden Donnelly

History

History is full of triumphant events, heartwarming happenings, and general good times. But throughout the long span of time, there have also been truly horrific moments full of pain and suffering. Many of the most <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/haunting-photos-that-show-the-dark-side-of-history/brenden-donnelly" target="_blank">horrific moments in history</a> have survivors who, at one time or another, told their stories. These individuals provide vivid accounts of what they saw and how they felt that&nbsp;humanize the hard statistics and objective facts often presented in history textbooks.

Some of the worst moments in history are testaments to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/intense-survival-stories/lea-rose-emery" target="_blank">survival</a>;&nbsp;others are reminders of humanity&#39;s capability to commit devastation and cruelty. All, however, should remain part of our collective memory in hopes that no one will <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-life-is-like-after-war/olivia-pasquarelli" target="_blank">have to live through them</a> again.

12 Moments In History That Would Have Been Horrific To Live Through

The Most Horrific Moments In History To Have Lived Through

Lists about the history and quirks of America's highest office.

The American Presidency

Aside from the uncontested election of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/george-washington-facts/coreybarger" target="_blank">George Washington</a> in 1789,&nbsp;and James Monroe&#39;s unopposed reelection in 1820, every other <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-u-s-presidents-from-best-to-worst" target="_blank">US president</a> has had to overcome at least one opponent. While historical immortality is guaranteed to the winner, history has not always been kind to the runners-up.

The fates of those who came close to winning the presidency differ greatly. Some bounced back and won the following election, others failed again (and again in one case), and a few made their mark outside of politics. This collection looks at what those who finished second in presidential elections did next.&nbsp;

What The Runners-Up Of 13 Historical Presidential Elections Did After Losing

Person

M. Muir

Military

A siege&nbsp;was a&nbsp;harsh experience for both sides of a conflict, but especially for the defenders. Trapped inside their fortifications, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/siege-arms/richard-rowe" target="_blank">pounded by artillery</a>, and watching supplies dwindle, they required great courage and determination to keep the attacking side at bay for sustained periods of time. Sometimes&nbsp;the defenders faced an opposing force many times larger, yet still refused to give in.&nbsp;

From the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-but-true-sparta-facts/emily-mast" target="_blank">women of Sparta</a> to the dogged determination of the citizens of Leningrad, this collection of historic battles features the defensive sides of sieges that&nbsp;faced absurd odds but still managed to prevail.&nbsp;

12 Siege Defenders Who Beat The Odds

We tend to think of presidents as these larger-than-life, often wealthy figures - and true as that may be since it is the most powerful job in the world - the men who have held the position have to start somewhere. The majority of the U.S. presidents grew up in much different circumstances than they were in when they left office or were in the White House. Presidents&#39; <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/president-childhood-pictures/brenden-donnelly" target="_blank">childhood</a> homes are now historic landmarks, in many cases, and a lot of them are extremely modest.&nbsp;

The childhood homes of presidents like Woodrow Wilson, George W. Bush, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, John F. Kennedy, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln are all wildly different from each other. Some are incredibly small while others are a bit more expansive. That said, the places these presidents grew up in can offer an alternate perspective of their lives.

What Presidents' Childhood Homes Actually Looked Like

Sean Kelly

Many American presidents have experienced tragic losses that&nbsp;significantly influenced their personal and professional lives. Exploring&nbsp;how these&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/tv-shows-that-dealt-with-real-tragedies/nydahmad" target="_blank">real-life tragedies</a>&nbsp;shaped their lives and careers can humanize some of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/top-100-most-influential-men-and-women-in-american-history/junior53?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most influential people in US history</a>.

As <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-u-s-presidents-from-best-to-worst" target="_blank">presidents from history</a>&nbsp;grieved spouses, children, siblings, and parents,&nbsp;their decisions and actions necessarily reflected those losses, and in turn, shaped history as a whole. From Abraham Lincoln&#39;s reaction to his son&#39;s passing to the pain Teddy Roosevelt felt after losing his wife and mother, tragedy is a&nbsp;fundamental part of these US presidents&#39; legacies.&nbsp;

How Tragedy Shaped The Lives And Careers Of 10 US Presidents

poll

“One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.”Contrary to what some may believe, the words above are not the United States Presidential Oath of Office, but in fact the words engraved upon the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/all-the-rings-from-lord-of-the-rings-and-what-they-do/tamar-altebarmakian">One Ring from The Lord of the Rings</a> by J.R.R. Tolkien. Forged in darkness within the bowels of Amon Amrath, Sauron made the One Ring in secret as a means to control the races of Middle-earth. It was a source of evil that could bolster Sauron's power, but even if he were to lose it, the Ring would corrupt another to usurp his place as "the Dark Lord." Lost for a couple thousand years, the Ring presented no threat. But when Sauron returned in the Third Age, the people of the Middle-earth had two options: be conquered by Sauron's armies or find the Ring and destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom.This presents a pretty fundamental problem for lands and people of Middle-earth. How do you destroy a magical ring - that seems have a good understanding of self-preservation - behind the fortifications and forces of the one person you must keep it away from? Give it to someone who has no ambition for power, someone who is selfless, and someone who may be humble yet still brave and courageous - someone like Frodo Baggins of Bag End or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/samwise-gamgee-lore-lord-of-the-rings/damon-davis">Samwise Gamgee</a>.Now, what does this have to do with the Presidents of the United States? Well, doesn't that also perfectly describe what Americans want from the person who represents the United States and occupies the highest office in the land? Someone like George “I'll Never Tell A Lie” Washington who willingly left office after eight years to standardize the idea that the presidency shouldn't be a lifetime appointment, or someone like “Honest Abe Lincoln” who in the face of war and adversity did everything in his power to preserve the Union rather than feed his own ambitions? Or perhaps someone like James Madison who was <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/different-physical-sizes-of-us-presidents/justin-andress">really short</a> and could have possibly had very hairy feet (Writer's Note: there is no evidence to support James Madison had hairy feet).If you were somehow put into a position where you had to decide the fate of the world by selecting a US President to become the Ring-Bearer and destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom, which President would you trust with the One Ring?

Which Presidents Would You Trust With The One Ring?

As a people, we've ranked the US Presidents in many ways over the years: on their <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-u-s-presidents-from-best-to-worst">public opinion ratings</a>, their policy making, their <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-presidential-speeches/mike-rothschild">speaking skills</a>, even just their general likability. But what many may have failed to consider is which president reigns supreme hairstylistically.&nbsp;Whether their long, wavy locks steal the show or if they have a subtler, timeless sort of 'do, ranking the presidents by their hair is sure to make us look at each of them a little differently. Vote up the presidents who made the best requests on the salon chair.

Which President Had The Best Hair?

Mallory Weiler

Everything you didn't know about the so-called leaders of the free world, from their favorite foods to their pets' names.

U.S. Presidents

To date, 46 men (no women yet) have been elected <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-u-s-presidents-from-best-to-worst" target="_blank">President of the United States</a>, so it&#39;s inevitable that quite a few have largely faded from memory. The Whig presidents&nbsp;and the period between Ulysses Grant&#39;s second term and Theodore Roosevelt&#39;s time in office, in particular,&nbsp;seem&nbsp;to be a legacy graveyard for the executive branch.&nbsp;As a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RigCBb-yRJs" target="_blank">catchy little ditty</a> in a classic episode of The Simpsons reminds us, you won&#39;t find their faces on dollars or on cents (not including <a href="https://www.usmint.gov/learn/coin-and-medal-programs/presidential-dollar-coin" target="_blank">commemorative coins</a>). Of the eight historical presidents on the stage, six are named, while a few possibilities exist&nbsp;for the others. Fittingly, most of the kids in the skit&nbsp;aren&#39;t all that memorable either.&nbsp;

For some of the officeholders featured here, the hand of fate took them early;&nbsp;others were thrust into the position by those premature demises, and the final group of non-entities was&nbsp;apparently just not up to the task. This list looks at the forgotten presidents and asks: do they really live up (or down) to expectations?

Ranking The Mediocre US Presidents Seen In 'The Simpsons'

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

The staff members at Hogwarts are as varied and eclectic as the subjects they teach, and almost every <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-13-craziest-harry-potter-fan-moments-ever/mark?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Harry Potter fan</a> has a favorite. But have you ever wondered which real-life figures would be fit to head a class? In this poll, we ask that of some of the most important <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/top-100-most-influential-men-and-women-in-american-history/junior53?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">US historical figures</a> of all time: the Presidents.Maybe you think Teddy Roosevelt would make a great substitute for Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures class, the charming JFK could teach charms himself, or the volatile Andrew Jackson may fall prey to the curse of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/harry-potter-defense-against-the-dark-arts-teachers/aaron-edwards?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Defense Against the Dark Arts</a> position.Whatever the case, vote up the presidents you think are up to the challenge, and vote down the ones you definitely wouldn't want to be stuck in a lecture with.

We Turned Every US President Into Hogwarts Professors

Let’s think for a moment about the essence of babysitters. They are temporary and representative executors of power who enforce the rules but neither makes them nor resolves them. The President of The United States is exactly the same. Are they representatives of executive power? Check. Do they enforce the rules made by others? Check. Are they temporarily the highest power in the land? Check.&nbsp;Sure, they may have to look after 329.5 million people for four to eight years rather than one to two children over a span of four to eight hours, but their pay is a little better and they get some <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/everyday-life-of-an-ex-president/genevieve-carlton">pretty good benefits</a>. But any good president is essentially a babysitter to a petulant child who isn’t ever sure of what they want but persistently demands they get it, i.e. the United States.&nbsp;All either a president or a babysitter really needs to do is distract the kid for a while so they don’t get into too much trouble, make sure they’re fed, then put them to bed at an appropriate hour. It may sound easy, but not every president nor babysitter is made equal. Some will use their commanding presence to do what they know needs to be done, others will convince the lawmakers to alter rules that may be too restrictive, and some may get you into a war where there’s absolutely no chance of winning - how that last one really applies to a babysitter, it’s not quite clear, but it would be bad nonetheless.Seeing that many of the attributes that make a good president would also make a good babysitter, which president would you actually trust to take care of your kids on a Saturday night?&nbsp;

Which Presidents Would You Trust To Babysit Your Kids?

According to Ranker voters, trustworthiness is one of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-qualities-in-a-person/samantha-dillinger">the very best qualities in a person</a>. Presidents are people too, so the transitive property suggests that trustworthiness is just as important in leaders of the free world. But which US presidents would you actually trust to keep your personal secrets?If you confessed a crush on someone to William Howard Taft, would he just go and blab about it to Helen “Nellie” Taft? He's known as Honest Abe, but would Abraham Lincoln spill the tea on your most gossipy secrets?Vote up the trustworthy presidents you'd know could play it close to the vest and keep your secrets safe.

Which US Presidents Would You Actually Trust With A Secret?

Tucker DeSaulnier

Politics and History lists at Ranker provide the best rankings of politicians and historical figures with interesting historical and political facts voted on by 1000s of people.